Oklahoma Movie Makers

OKLAHOMA MOVIE MAKERS

by Marc Hall

The Oklahoma Movie Makers group was created on January 5, 2004. Originally it was created as a SPAM-FREE online group to find (and post) casting and crew calls. The main focus of the group is Oklahoma - however Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri productions and film festivals are also covered when available.

Shortly after the creation of OMM, a small group of members decided that group meetings would be beneficial and that a short film should be done as a group project. Beginning in March 2004, bi-weekly meetings were held at a Barnes and Noble bookstore in Tulsa, OK and plans were quickly underway for a short film. It was decided that the short would be created as a collaboration and as a result was written (and soon directed) by three different members.

The short that was created was The Diner, a 2006 AMPS 'Certificate of Merit' winner. The Diner went on to play in numerous festivals and fundraisers and in April 2005 received the coveted 'Bonehead Award' from the Bare Bones International Film Festival in Muskogee, OK.
After The Diner, OMM decided to begin helping (on a volunteer basis) other amateur filmmakers, who had no crew or equipment, in the filming of their projects.

The 'Bonehead' gets its name in honor of the bare bones no/low budget approach to indie filmmaking.
In October 2006, The Diner gained the distinction as an 'Oklahoma Classic Short' from the Bare Bones International Film Festival committee in honor of the collaborative effort used for its creation.

This would give the participating OMM members valuable hands-on experience as well as credits for their resumes. Close to 20 projects, many of which went on to be award winners, have been created in association with OMM.

A few times a year OMM offers guest speakers, special film screenings and workshops aimed at helping amateur filmmakers succeed. These workshops, presented by Oklahoma industry professionals, are offered for free. They have covered everything from lighting for film and video to insurance to lens filters

As of this writing, OMM has 872 online members from around the world and has been featured on numerous local television stations, newspapers and radio. Weekly meetings are held every Thursday in the newly renovated Circle Cinema, which is offered to OMM free of charge by owner Clark Weins, a big supporter of indie film in Tulsa. OMM continues to function and grow as an all volunteer group with no membership fees.

- Marc Hall

Visit OMM's area on Yahoo Groups or MySpace and check out the website for Marc's hit film Timmy.

This article first appeared in AMPS Movie Makers volume 18, no. 2 March 2008. It is reproduced by kind permission of the author and editor.